Virginia
West Virginia Gov Jim Justice vows to sign legislation protecting women's spaces: 'I'll sign it very proudly'
West Virginia could become the latest state to adopt legislation aimed at protecting women’s rights with the adoption of House Bill 5243, which aims to define sex-based terms used in state law.
Republican West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appeared on “America’s Newsroom” alongside former NCAA Division 1 swimmer Riley Gaines to announce his plans to sign the “West Virginia Women’s Bill of Rights.”
Riley Gaines speaks during a discussion on transgender athletes in women’s sports during a National Girls and Women in Sports Day event on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“We’re really, really proud of this Women’s Bill of Rights,” Gov. Justice said. “When it gets to my desk, I’ll sign it, and I’ll sign it very proudly. But really and truly, it’s just another step.”
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Four other states have already adopted versions of a Women’s Bill of Rights, including most recently in Oklahoma in August.
“I’m a basketball coach. I’m coaching girls basketball on a high school level. I’ve been doing it for a long, long time,” Gov. Justice added. “This is absolutely essential in many, many ways for us to stand up for women and do the right thing.”
The bill, which was introduced last week, seeks to define sex-based terms, provide “separate single-sex environments” based on “biology,” and ensure the accuracy of public data collection.
Republican West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his State of the State at the West Virginia Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia, Jan. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)
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Gaines, an OutKick contributor and host of OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast, voiced her support for the new piece of legislation.
“I think it’s necessary, and unfortunately, I think it’s urgent that we get this done, not just here in West Virginia, but across the nation,” Gaines said, adding, “It’s really setting the precedent for the rest of the states in the nation.”
Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines testifies during a House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hearing on Capitol Hill Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington, D.C. The hearing focused on the Biden administration’s proposed rule changes to Title IX to redefine the definition of sexual discrimination to include gender identity. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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In March 2023, Gov. Justice signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors, including gender-affirming surgery. That bill went into effect earlier this month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Virginia will join a growing list of states with workplace heat safety standards that private-sector employers must follow under legislation approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
The bill (SB 288) tasks the state’s Safety and Health Codes Board with creating standards for indoor and outdoor workplaces no later than May 1, 2028, adding Virginia to a handful of states that have dictated heat safety protocols in the absence of a federal standard.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration continued work on developing a national heat safety rule in 2025, but President Donald Trump’s deregulatory goals are likely to yield a more employer-friendly standard than those passed in Democratic-majority states.
Virginia employers will be required to provide water, access to shade, rest periods, acclimatization, and training for working in heat. High-heat procedures would take effect at a temperature threshold to be determined by the board in its rulemaking.
Deciding on an appropriate temperature threshold to trigger protections has been a notable challenge, both in state proposals and OSHA’s federal regulatory efforts.
California, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington state have mandated workplace heat safety standards, while Colorado has imposed a standard specific to agriculture workers.
Virginia regulators previously considered a workplace heat safety proposal but halted the rulemaking process in late 2021, with some board members citing concerns it would conflict or be redundant with the federal regulation that they thought at the time would be implemented soon.
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. (WCHS) — Gov. Patrick Morrisey signaled support for the horse racing industry in West Virginia through a bill signing Monday.
Senate Bill 1060 updates laws to include certified thoroughbred horses and raises a funding cap for restricted races from $1 million to $2 million.
The measure allows horses that have lived in West Virginia for six months to compete for larger purses. State leaders are hopeful the move will incentivize out-of-state horse owners to relocate to West Virginia.
In addition, the bill would allow licensed racing associations to transmit broadcasts of races with a portion of wagers going toward the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund.
Changes will go into effect on June 7.
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Currently, horse races are held in West Virginia’s panhandles, at the Mountaineer Racetrack and Resort in New Cumberland and the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach police are investigating after a large crowd of teens were fighting Saturday evening at Nova Adventure Park.
A Virginia Beach police officer was in the 2000 block of Lynnhaven Parkway at approximately 9:35 p.m. when a large group of teens started fighting. Additional officers arrived and the teenagers disbursed.
Police said at least one victim involved suffered an injury that was not life-threatening.
The incident is under active investigation.
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